Francis Tombs, Baron Tombs Explained

Francis Leonard Tombs, Baron Tombs (17 May 1924 – 11 April 2020) was an English industrialist and politician who served as a crossbench member of the House of Lords from 1990 until his retirement in 2015.

Background

Tombs was born to a Catholic family in Walsall in 1924, one of three sons born to Joseph and Jane (née Bouncer) Tombs.[1] He was educated at Elmore Green School, Walsall, and at the University of London.[1] He worked for the General Electric Company from 1944 to 1946.[1]

Career

Tombs had a career in industry, particularly in electricity generation.[2] He was chairman of the South of Scotland Electricity Board,[3] the Electricity Council[4] and Rolls-Royce.[5] Tombs was president of the Institution of Electrical Engineers in 1981[6] and became an Honorary Fellow of its successor organisation the Institution of Engineering and Technology in 1991.[7] Tombs was named chairman of Turner & Newall P.L.C.,[1] Britain's largest manufacturer of asbestos products on 30 November 1982,[8] and remained there throughout much of the 1980s.

Knighted in 1978, Tombs was created a life peer on 29 February 1990, as Baron Tombs, of Brailes in the County of Warwickshire.[9] He sat in the House of Lords as a crossbencher, and was on a number of committees. Tombs was granted a leave of absence in March 2008, which lasted until July 2010.[10] [11] He wrote a memoir, Power Politics: Political Encounters in Industry and Engineering, which was published later that year.[12] Tombs retired from the House of Lords on 31 March 2015.[13]

Personal life and death

In 1949, Tombs married Marjorie Evans; they had three daughters and were married until her death in 2008.[1]

Tombs died from complications of dementia at a care home in Coventry on 11 April 2020, at the age of 95.[1] [14]

Coat of arms

Escutcheon:Azure, on a saltire Azure fimbriated Argent a sun, its four rays in saltire extended and tipped with flame all Gold.
Crest:Out of a crown rayonny Or, each straight ray ending in a mullet Or, a dexter arm embowed vested Azure the hand proper holding two keys in saltire bows upwards Gold.
Supporters:Dexter, a unicorn Argent, armed, unguled, bearded, maned and tufted Or, sejant erect upon a grassy mount Proper between two double roses growing therefrom Argent on Gules and both barbed and seeded, stalked and leaved proper; sinister, a bear Proper, clawed and muzzled Or, sejant erect upon a like mount between two thistles growing therefrom also Proper.
Motto:Work And Pray [15]

Notes and References

  1. Tombs, Francis Leonard, Baron Tombs (1924–2020), engineer and industrialist. Lorenz. Andrew. 2024. 10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.90000381712.
  2. Web site: Nuclear Energy - 25 Years of Generating Experience. Tombs. Francis. 33–39 . Institution of Engineers, Australia . 2010-03-28.
  3. Web site: A way forward for nuclear power. Ham. Adrian. Hall. Robert. Department for Business Innovation and Skills. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20070807162117/http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file28276.pdf. dead. 7 August 2007. 2006-02-20. 2010-03-28.
  4. Web site: Nationalised Industries (Accounting Practice): House of Commons debates, 1 August 1978. 2010-03-28.
  5. Web site: Electricity – the key to a UK Energy Policy . Institute of Physics . https://archive.today/20130802020108/http://www.iop.org/activity/groups/subject/Energy/Group_events/page_25696.html . dead . 2013-08-02 . 2010-03-28.
  6. Web site: Past Presidents of the IEE . Institution of Engineering and Technology . 2010-03-28 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080516115712/http://www.theiet.org/about/libarc/archives/institution-history/presidents-iee.cfm . 16 May 2008 . dmy-all .
  7. Web site: IET Honorary Fellows. Institution of Engineering and Technology. 2010-03-28. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110929004948/http://www.theiet.org/about/libarc/archives/institution-history/hon-fellows.cfm. 29 September 2011. dmy-all.
  8. News: BUSINESS PEOPLE; Turner & Newall Appoints Chairman. The New York Times. 30 November 1982. Cuff. Daniel F..
  9. Web site: Lord Tombs. . 13 March 1990. 2010-03-28.
  10. Web site: House of Lords - Minute . The Stationery Office . 2008-03-03 . 2010-03-28 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110605015719/http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld200708/minutes/080304/ldordpap.htm . 5 June 2011 . dmy-all .
  11. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldjournal/241/127.htm#1 House of Lords Journal for 14 July 2008
  12. Book: Tombs, Francis, Sir. Power politics : political encounters in industry and engineering. 2011. I.B. Tauris. 978-0-85771-916-4. London. 713360894.
  13. http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/lords/retired-lords/ Retired members of the House of Lords
  14. http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/deaths/240863/tombs-francis-leonard-(lord-tombs-of-brailes TOMBS, Francis Leonard (Lord Tombs of Brailes)
  15. Book: Debrett's Peerage . 2000.

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